740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1445: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

528. Reurtel 423 of Sept 8, 1 p.m.,32 and my No. 514 of Sept 14, 12, noon,33 concerning accrediting military missions to Control Council. Sobolev34 has insisted consistently that the 16 countries which would send the first missions be not invited by the Council but that their applications to send missions be accepted. Soviets attach political significance to invitation as indicating Council believes governments invited are connected with activities of Council. Consider Soviet position reasonable and do not see any objection to agreement on our part. Accordingly urgently request instruction permitting my agreement to acceptance of applications from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, [Page 1095] Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, India, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa and Yugoslavia. The reason for the suggested priority of acceptance of military missions is the acute lack of housing, food, fuel, transportation and communications in Berlin. In view of the inability of the Allied authorities in Berlin to provide immediately for representatives of all countries who might desire to establish missions, we considered justified the suggestion that priority be given those who had actively participated in the war against the Axis.

Murphy
  1. Not printed; it reported Department disapproval of a British suggestion that each of the following countries be asked to send one man to Berlin to serve as an advance liaison representative: Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, and Yugoslavia (740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–545).
  2. Not printed; it reported on the fourth meeting of the Political Directorate of the Allied Control Council on September 14 (740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–1445).
  3. Arkady Alexandrovich Sobolev, Chief, Political Section, Soviet Military Administration in Germany.